Card index



Sept 1945' G. w. TORRENCE ETAL v2,384,355

CARD INDEX Filed Dec. 4, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet l 5 W 721121255, WAL'a/kms,

wean/1 Sept. 4, 1945.

G. W. TORRENCE ETAL CARD INDEX Filed Dec. 4, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 .5:W. 2271x5042, WA (a 11 2 i nsco 5 FG kwl Sept. 4, 1945. G. w. TORRENCEET AL 2,334,355

CARD INDEX Filed Dec. 4, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 WA [aim 2s,

Patented Sept. 4, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE- CARD INDEX George W.Torrence and Willis A. Collins,

Peoria Ill Application December 4, 1941, Serial No. 421,540

25 Claims.

Another object is to rotate the index by power,

and during rotation through the employment of controlled parts,automatically select a given tray and cause its delivery at a commoninspection point. I

Still another object is to rotate the index by means of an electricmotor and to provide certain portions on the device as parts of anelectric circuit by means of which the operator by manually settingcertain parts a given or desired tray may be delivered at a givenposition through the automatic breaking of the circuit through the motorto at once halt rotation and to bring before such operator the chosentray at such given position for inspection.

Further, an object in a rotating index is to provide a series ofelectric circuit closers operated by convenient buttons at the hand ofthe operator, each button being identified by a letter 01' the alphabetcorresponding with a given support, the pressing of any one buttonresulting in the preselection, automatically, of any such given supportand delivering that support to the operator during the rotation periodof the index simultaneously with the cessation oi rotation of suchindex.

Bes des these objects the index has other objects and advantages as willbe made known in the following specification aided by the accompanyingdrawings forming part hereof, wherein:

Figure 1 illustrates the device in perspective;

Figures 2 and 3 are, respectively, a front elevaton, and a sideelevation 01' the device in part section produced on a much largerscale.

Figure 4 is a front elevation of a button panel shown in Figure 2 butgreatly enlarged;

Figures 5 and 6 are transverse sections of the panel of Figure 4, muchenlarged, showing two different positions of parts mounted thereon;

Figure 7 illustrates in perspective certa n parts shown in said Figures5 and 6;

Figure 8 is a side elevation of some of the parts shown in Figures 5 and6;

Figure 9 is a diagram of electric c rcuits employed in the devicetogether with certain parts oi said device;

Figure 10 shows in perspective a retainer plate as part of the structureherein considered;

Figure 11 is a front elevation of parts of the device, certain 01 theparts being shown in section;

Figure 12 is a side elevation of a drum and supports together with aseries or retainer plates; Figure 13 shows parts 01' a tray inperspective;

Figure 14 is a front elevation of parts of the support shown in Figure13;

Figure 15 shows in perspective a portion of the support structure ofFigure 13 much enlarged;

Figure 16 shows in perspective a. clip for application to a supportillustrated in Figure 13.

Figure 17 is a rear elevation oi. part of the drum of the device, and asupport mounted thereon, together with certain other parts;

Figure 18 is a transverse section of parts shownin Figure 17, muchenlarged, showing a circuit breaker together with part of a support alsoin section, with an attached clip;

Figure 19 illustrates portions of a series of supports in perspectiveand a retainer attached to each, and

Figure 19 is an end elevation of parts of the supports of Figure 19together with the retainers 01' that figure.

In the first three figures of the drawings I denotes an enclosing bodyfor the rotary card index mechanism, the latter including a drum 2, bestshown in Figures 11 and 12, said drum being mounted by a shaft 3 insuitable bearings 4, for example. Figure 2, and rotated through theinstrumentality of a wheel 5 on said shaft 3 driven by a belt 6 on awheel I of an electric motor 8, in the present instance.

The drum 2 is designed to carry a series of supports 9 to carry cardsfor holding an index record, and is swingably mounted. Said supports arepreferably in the form of inverted pans, for example, as illustrated inFigure 13 and throughout their lengths, viewed edgewise, appearwedgeshaped, the cards making up the index being denoted at l 0 in thefigure named and suitably held thereon, each support having at itsnarrowest end a trunnion 9, extending from each edge thereof.

As shown in Figures 11 and 12 the named drum 2 is provided at each endwith a flange 2' in the periphery of each of which is a series 01'notches 2 equally spaced apart, and lying opposite each other, pairs ofopposed notches designed to receive into them the named trunnions 9' ofa support. A series of retainer plates H abut each other and Jointlyencircle the periphery of the flange 2' by means, for example, of anextended flange I! on each plate which serves to overhang certain of thetrunnions for holding them in their respective notches while permittingthe supports to freely swing. Each plate is held in position by use ofstuds l3 extending therethrough and fixed in the drum. Springs llinterposed between the plate and heads of the studs hold the plates inposition while permitting them to be unseated for releasing any one ormore supports as desired.

The number of supports employed is such, with respect to thecompleteness of the index and the convenience of inspection thereof,that the drum 2 may be fairly well covered with them as shown in Figure3, and naturally, as rotation is imparted to the drum toward the left asviewed in said Figure 3, the supports may drop one by one from anelevated position to a position for inspection at a shelf I, forexample, at an open side of the enclosure I. That the release of thesupports from the upper or elevated position may be governed so as tofall one by one during rotation, a spring-held stop I" is pivotally hungupon a convenient portion of the structure against which each successivesupport must rest temporarily.

Since the supports 8 would be free to swing independently of each otheron their mountings, certain of them may at certain positions, perhaps,if not controlled, tend to disarrange the whole series during rotation.For this reason it may be preferable to provide means for holding saidtrays in close order relative to each other at certain positions of drumrotation. Some such means is illustrated in Figures 19 and 19 wherein alatch 9 is attached to a side edge of each support near the free endthereof, each latch, as an example, being S-shaped and so positionedthat in a sliding movement of the supports lengthwise with respect toeach other the latch of any one support will, at one end, engage in arecess of an adjacent latch. This engagement of latching means wouldresult only at certain drum positions but at all other positions duringrotation the latches would be free of each other or in their spacedpositions shown in Figure 19.

Figure 19* makes clear the relative position of the latches as viewed atone end of a support, and their ease of engagement.

Attention is now directed to the means for selecting and delivering anygiven support at the shelf position I mentioned above.

First it is to be noted that convenient to the hand of the operator iswhat will be termed an index-panel I! on the enclosure body I, forexample. This panel, best shown in Figure 4, in-

cludes two spaced rows [8, I! of the letters of the alphabet or othercharacters, letters of one row being a duplication of the other in thepresent instance. Between these two rows of letters are two rows of pushbuttons l8, IS, a pair of the buttons lying in line with and between twoidentical letters or characters throughout. Naturally, if desired, theidentifying letters may be carried by the buttons instead.

Referring now to Figures 13, l4, l and 17 it is to be observed thatextending from each side edge of a support is a flange, one denoted by20 and the other by 2i.

In Figures 14 and 15, it may be seen that the alphabet letters are showntherealong in spaced positions. Created in opposed side surfaces ofthese flanges between the letters are grooves 22,

g in any one or more of which groove-pairs is insertable a part, as aclip 23, for example, Figure 16, for a purpose to appear.

asscsss It is to be understood, now, that the alphabet is thus providedat each edge of each support to correspond with the alphabets of thepanel ll. named earlier herein.

In Figures 5, 6 and 8 the index panel II, for instance, may carry at itsback within the space of the body I any suitable spacers II for a bar llas an example, there being an arrangement of this type at bothextremities of said panel, one only, however, being shown, as in thefigures just named.

Pivoted at its ends between the opposed bars ll thus provided is alatch-bar N 'in v-form throughout its length, in this instance,supported on a trunnion 25, at each end, but one of which is shown,Figure 8. Said latch-bar is adapted to rock between two extremepositions but normally limited in one direction of movement by a stopH'Qagainst which it is held by a. spring 25', for example. Supported onany suitable or convenient part of the structure, such, for example, asthe named bar It, is an electro-magnet 20 lying adjacent one limb of thelatch-bar, the opposite limb. terminating along its free edge in a hook21 extending the full length thereof and directed toward the first saidlimb as shown. Secured to the panel is what may be termed a switch. Inthe present instance, near each edge of the panel is one end of aconductor 2!, 2! for the electric current, each conductor being ofspring metal, the free ends thereof extending toward each other butspaced apart as illustrated in Figure 7, and each terminating in a hookseparately denoted by 28' and 29', said hooks being normally spaced fromthe hook I! of the latch-bar 24 but in position to engage the same undercertain conditions to be made known presently, such latch-barconstituting a conductor of the electric current. One of these springconductors 2U, 28 it is observed in Figure 5, lies opposite a button ofthe row of buttons 48, the other lying opposite a button of the otherrow 19, any pair of conductors so shown lying between each two buttonsof the same designation as A A, B B and so on, see dotted line Figure 4at the AA position.

Within the cabinet or body l rearward of the position of the index panell5, see Figure 3, is a second panel suitably fixed in position at eachside of the path oi travel of the supports 9 and spaced from the edgesof said supports, these panels being denoted at 30 and 3| in Figures 2and 17, their positions being reversed in the last named figure fromthat in said Figure 2 from the fact that the device is being viewed fromthe rear. These panels will be referred to herein as "switch panels" inorder to distinguish them from the index panel" I 5. On each of these ismounted a series of spring-metal conductors 32, one of which isillustrated in Figure 18,and to be termed a circuit breaker. The entireseries of circuit breakers at the edge of each switchpanel project fromthat edge toward the supports and each extends into the path of travelof one of the named clips 23 extending from each of such supports as maybe provided with index cards, and it may be understood from said Figure18 that the said clips in their mounted positions all extend slightlyover the end terminus of a circuit breaker 32 so that in approaching andpassing the same will engage and lift it from contact with a conductorterminal 32' on said switch panel.

Referring now to Figure 5, and to the diagram of Figure 9, separatecurrent conducting wires 83 connect each spring conductor 28 of theseries at the left of the panel ll of said Figure 9 with a circuitbreaker 22 throughout said series, the spring conductor 28 at the Aposition being connected to the circuit breaker 82 lying at the extremetop position, on the panel 28, see Figure 17, and this latter positionlies directly opposite the alphabet letter A position on the supportwhich carries all index cards falling under that letter. Similarly, thespring-conductor 28 at B position on the panel II connects with thesecond circuit breaker 82 or that lying opposite B of the supports andso on throughout the alphabet.

Again, the spring conductor 28 at the right of the panel I6 of Figure 9at position A is connected through a wire 34 with a circuit breaker 82of the switch panel II as that panel isviewed in Figure 1 (reversed inposition in Figure 1'7), the same order being preserved for all of theconnections as before, in that each switch of abutton designation at thealphabet letter on the panel I5 must agree with the position for thecircuit breaker 32 on the switch-panel ll as it lies opposite a givenletter on the support.

Refer, now, to the diagram of the electric circuits, Figure 9. Connectedwith one side of the motor 8- is a current conducting wire 26 from atransformer 36. A conductor 31 connects the other side of the motor withone pole of a normally open magnetic switch 38, through a manuallyoperated switch 39, if desired, the other pole of said switch 38 havingconnected thereto a return conductor 48 to a power source. Thetransformer at one side is connected by a wire 36 to the rockinglatch-bar 24 previously described, the other pole of the saidtransformer having connection through the coil-of the magnetic switch 38by a conductor M, from which coil a wire 42 extends to the coil of themagnet 26. A wire 43 from said coil connects with each switch of bothseries of the circuit breakers 32, completing the low-voltage circuit,which circuit, however, is open by reason of the normal open position ofthe spring members 28, 28, on the panel i5.

Under the above conditions the supports during rotation with the drum 2would cause all of the clips to open the entire two series of circuitbreakers with or without result in so far as the electric circuits areconcerned, depending upon any acts of the operator with respect to themanipulation of the buttons l8, l9, at the normally open members 28, 29.

Let it be supposed, now, that it is desired to inspect a card bearingthe name Adams. The operator, whether the supports are in rotation ornot, will depress the button A at the left of the index panel i5 andwill also depress the D button at the right of said panel, if of course,these two letters are used in the indexing method as on the supports asthe identifying letters for "Adams'? i. e., where the first letter inthis instance is the initial letter of the name and the other asecondary identifying letter thereof.

In a study of Figure 5 it will be observed that the point of the hook28' of the switch member 28 lies above the latch-bar 24 so that indepressing said member 28 the two hooks 28' and 21 will be brought intocontact and interlock thereby holding the electric circuit closedthrough the transformer and through the magnet 26 causing the latch-barto maintain the interlocked position in Figure 6, provided, or course,that the motor circuit is closed to include said transformer. The hook28' when depressed may preferably engage and make electrical contactwith an extension 24' on said latch-bar 24 whereupon the positive hookengagement is brought about. Following this action the depressing of thehook 28', also, will cause that portion to engage beneath the hook 21 toclose a circuit through the circuit breaker with which the member 28 isconnected and thereby the particular support bearing the "Adams recordwill, through both the clips corresponding to such support at the A andD positions, cause final delivery of that support.

The latch-bar 24 actually serves as one side or part of a lockingcircuit closer, as it may be termed, all of the members 28, 28 being theother parts, said latch-bar being a convenient element by which to lockwith any given pair of said members, or all of them, and acting as acommon conductor of current as has been stated previously.

It may be stated at this point that the hook 28' may be used to closethe circuit in order to energize the magnet 26 and thus bring thelatch-bar to a position to be engaged with said hook, but this resultmay be otherwise accomplished if desired.

Supposing a card bearing the name Kopper is desired. By the same rulestated the button at the letter K at the left of the panel II will bedepressed and, at the right of the panel the button 0 will be depressed,the required tray bearing the card Kopper being automaticallydesignated. In this way any one support or any number of supports may beselected with the intent that each will in turn be presented forinspection.

When closing the circuit by means of either of the switch members 28 and29 through the latchbar 24 and magnet coil 26, the magnetic switch at 38is also closed thus completing the motor circuit setting the motor 8 inoperation to rotate the supports whereupon as the clips of a selectedsupport meet and pass the corresponding circuit breakers, the latterbreaks the circuit through the motor and the described circuit of theseries. This all happens at the instant of opening said circuit breaker,the selected support falling from the stop I, Figure 3, to the shelfposition for inspection. When the circuit is broken as described thecircuit closers 28, 29 are released to assume their normal positionsfrom the fact that the spring 2-") is permitted to return the latch-bar24 to normal position, the magnet 26 being no longer effective.

Any type of arrangement not shown may be employed to automatically stoprotation of the bulk of supports at the releasing period of a supportshould momentum tend to carry such bulk farther than the delivery point.

It is to be understood that only such trays as are selected by buttondepression can bring about any such action as described. Supports notselected by such button operation merely operate their respectivecircuit breakers without result since the latter are not in a closedcircuit. In other words until buttons of the rows l8, l9 correspondingto the ineffective circuit breakers are operated, the latter are whollyidle.

It has been intimated that the clips 23 of the supports are permanentlyin position. This is true so long, of course, as the index cards of thesupports remain in position on a given support, for example. The clipsare removable from the flanges 2i so that in the event oi change ofcards from one support to another said clips may be changed to suit thenew order.

While the drum 2 may be rotated by hand it is preferable, of course, toemploy power therefor in the interest of more speedy results ininspection of the index cards.

It is to be understood that when the supports have been provided withthe attached clips 21 the device is ready to at any moment be set inmotion by engaging a circuit closer, or a pair oi them, and any supportdesignated by the particular circuit closer will be automaticallydelivered followed by the breaking of the power circuit. After theinspection of that support any other support may be chosen by the samemethod and so on through any number of such supports.

While one manner and means have been described and shown for the controland delivery of the supports at a desired inspection position it is notthe intention to be confined to such since other means that would beconsidered to fairly rail within the meaning of the claims to follow maybe employed. For example, while a drum" has been referred to as acarrier for holding the data-carrying supports it is understood that anyother type of carrier may be used for the purpose where a closed path oftravel is provided for said supports.

Though mechanical means is shown for rotating the drum or carrier it isclear that this member may be operated by hand as are other card indexesof the same general class. By merely closing the switch 38 withouteflecting the motor circuit the manual operation will cause the resultsalready described herein.

We claim:

1. A card index including a carrier mounted by means whereby it ismovable in a closed path at its periphery, a series of supports hingedlymounted thereon for travel at such periphery, each for delivery at acommon inspection position each for carrying index matter, a series ofparts erected adjacent the path of travel of said supports. an extensioncarried by each support to abut a given erected part during the travelof said supports, a series of manually operated parts, a latch to engageand lock therewith but normally iree thereof, each last named Part beingidentified by its own distinguishing data, that data thereatcorresponding to a given support, and apparatus interposed between eachof the manually operated parts and one of the erected parts effectivefollowing the manual engagement oi a manually operated part with saidlatch, to deliver a given support at said inspection position when theextension of that support corresponding to said manually operated partabuts a corresponding erected part, and also effective to release thelatch from the said manually operated parts.

2. The structure according to claim 1, including means for halting thecarrier at the position oi support delivery.

3. A card index including in its construction a member mounted by meanswhereby it is movable, a series of supports hingedly mounted at one endof each on said member adapted to overlie each other in their travelwith the latter, and each carrying its own identifying index character,individual supports of said series adapted to be delivered at a commoninspection position, an extension on each support each having its ownpath of travel, a series of mounted projections adjacent the paths 01'travel of the supports and each in position to separately receivecontact oi the extension of a given support, an electric circuit, aseries oi manually operated parts connected into said electric circuit,and each having an index character thereat corresponding to that of agiven support, a series of separate mounted means each connected to oneof said manually operated parts and each having contact, normally, withone of said mounted projections to close the electric circuit throughsaid manually operated parts and separable from said projection to breakthe said electric circuit by the described contact therewith of anextension, and mechanism included between each manually operated partand each said means eflective when a given manually operated part isactuated to deliver a support corresponding thereto at the inspectionposition.

4. The structure according to claim 3, wherein the named mechanism haltsthe movement of the member at the time of support delivery.

5. A card index including in its construction a member mounted to rotatea series 0! swingable supports thereon each for carrying an indexrecord, individual supports of the series adapted to be separatelycarried to a position for inspection, a member extending from eachsupport, an electric circuit comprising a manually operated circuitcloser and a conductor as part of said electric circuit capable of beinginfluenced magnetically, and with which said manually operated circuitcloser is adapted to be lockably engaged manually, the latter beingnormally elastically held disengaged from said conductor, means tomagnetically attract said conductor for moving it into looking positionwith said manually operated circuit closer, and means in said circuitextending into the path of travel of the named member of a support,adapted for closing the electric circuit through the first said means inthe closed position of said manually operated circuit closer, the memberof a support in it vtravel adapted to engage and move the second namedmeans to break said circuit for releasing said manually operated circuitcloser.

6. A card index including in its construction a member mounted by meanswhereby it is rotatable, a series of supports thereon each (or carryingthereon an index record, the said supports of the series adapted to beseparately carried to a common position for inspection, a member carriedby each support and projecting therefrom provided with an identifyingcharacter agreeing with the index record of said support, an electriccircuit, means projecting into the path of travel of the second namedmember constituting an elastic circuit breaker as part of said electriccircuit and adapted to receive against it the said second named member,a manually operated circuit closer part of which is connectedelectrically with one side of said circuit breaker, the other side ofthe latter being connected in sa d circuit, a conductor as part of saidcircuit capable of being influenced magnetically, and with which saidcircuit closer is adapted to lockably engage, said circuit closer beingnormally elastically held disengaged from said conductor, means includedin said circuit for magnetically attracting said conductor for moving itinto engagement with the named part, said second named member in itstravel with a support engaging and moving the named projecting means tobreak the said electric circuit for releasing the said circuit closer,there being an identifying character adjacent the said circuit closer ofthe same value as the character of the said projecting member of thesupp 7. A card index including in its construction a supportingstructure, a member mounted thereon whereby it is rotatable, a series ofsupports pivoted thereon, each for carrying an index record. thesupports of said series adapted to be separately carried to anddelivered at a common position for inspection, a member extending from asupport and carrying an indentifying character agreeing with the saidindex record, an electric circuit, a circuit breaker mounted on a fixedpart 01' the said supporting structure as part of said electric circuit,a manually operated circuit closer part connected in said circuit andnormally held in a retracted position elastically, a swingable part withwhich the named part is engageable and constituting the other part ofthe circuit closer, the two named parts adapted to be manually engagedand interlocked, means in said electric circuit adapted to maintainengagement of the said named parts for maintaining a closed circuittherethrough, the second named member extending from a support in thetravel of the latter adapted to engage and open the circuit breaker forbreaking the circuit to permit separation of the circuit closer parts.

8. The invention according to claim 7, including an identifyingcharacter at the named circuit closer agreeing with that of the indexrecord on said support,

9. The invention according to claim '7 including therewith an electricmotor for driving said rotatable member, and said means including amagnetically operated switch in the named circuit for closing theelectric circuit through the motor when the described manually operatedcircuit closer parts are brought into engagement,

10. A card index including in its construction a supporting frame, amember mounted thereon to rotate, a series of supports pivoted on themember and each designed to carry an index record,

the supports of said series adapted each to be separately carried to anddelivered at a common position for inspection, dual means extending froma support each having an identifying character and both charactersagreeing with given characters of said index record, an electriccircult, dual circuit breakers mounted on the frame, each 01' which liesin the path of one of said dual means on a support, the circuit breakersbeing part 01' the electric circuit, a pair oi separate parts, eachbeing part of the electric circuit, a magnetically operated mechanism insaid circuit with which each said part is engage-able, and each beingelectrically connected with one of the circuit breakers, and both beingheld normally in a retracted position elastically, said mechanismadapted to interlock with both said parts upon manual operation of thelatter, the said dual means adapted to separately engage and open thenamed dual circuit breakers when a support carrying them is at saidposition of inspection for breaking the named circuit for permittingrelease oi. the manually operated parts from said mechanism by renderingthe latter ineffective, there being at each constituted manuallyoperated part a separate identifying character, both characters agreeingwith characters as parts of the said index record and those at said dualmeans on the support.

a, rotatable member, a support mounted thereon to travel therewithtoward a given positionfor inspection and for carrying an index record.said 11. A card index including in its construction and when manuallyclosed being releasably held by said electromagnet, and said magnetadapted to maintain the closed relation 01 the circuit closer, the saidextension on the support in its travel adapted to open the circuitbreaker to break the circuit through the magnet rendering the lat terineifective, releasing the circuit closer when the support has reachedsaid position of inspection.

12. The invention accordin to claim 11, including therewith that anidentifying character is denoted on said extension of the support and atsaid circuit closer, each character having the same value as that of thesaid index record on said support.

15. A card index including in its construction a rotatable member, asupport including an extension thereof mounted on said member, saidsupport being provided thereon with an index record, and said supportadapted to travel with the member toward a given position for deliveryand inspection, a manually operated part norpart is adapted to look whenthe two are brought together in such an operation, a latch-bar tocooperate with the two parts to maintain the locked relation of suchparts, means to hold the latchbar in locked position of the parts a parterected adjacent in the path of travel of the support, means interposedbetween the erected part and the first and second part, the two lastconsidered as a whole, by which said erected part causes the release ofthe elastically held part as the said support meets and moves saiderected part, said support meeting the latter at the time such supportreaches the extension of said position of delivery,

and means to cause halting of the rotatable member at such deliveryposition, and to cause the release of the latch-bar for separation ofthe first named parts.

14. A card index including in its construction a rotatable member, asupport mounted thereon to travel therewith toward a given position fordelivery and inspection, and provided with an index record thereon, saidsupport including an extension projecting from an edge thereof, amanually operated part normally elastically held in one extremeposition, a second part with which the first named part is adapted tolock when manually operated, both said parts beingincluded in anelectric circuit, a latch for engaging the parts and maintaining theirlocked relation, means to hold said latch in the part engaging relation,a part erected in the path of travel of the extension or the support andconstructing a circuit breaker also included in said electric circuit,and means included in said circuit between the circuit breaker and thefirst and second named parts arranged to affect the release of the latchand the subsequent separation of the said first and second named partsfrom each other in the opening of the said circuit breaker by contact ofthe support with the named extension at the time the latter reaches saidplace of delivery.

15; A card index including in its construction a rotatable member, aseries or supports carried thereby to rotate therewith, each forselective delivery at a common position for inspection of index matterthereon, a series of separate parts erected on the device adjacent thepath or travel of the supports, each in a position to eceive against ita part of a support in the travel of the same, a series of manually andselectively operated parts, a single part with which the said series ofparts are separately adapted. to interlock, the said series of partsbeing normally and elastically held disengaged from the said singlepart, means interposed between each of said manually operated parts andone of the said erected parts, the latter through said means whenreceiving against it pressure of a support adapted to release themanually operated part complementary thereto from the companion singlepart permitting the said manually operated part to assume its normaldisengaged position, and a different identifying character at each ofthe manually operated parts, each having the same value as anidentifying character on the index record of a support.

16. A card index including in its construction a supporting frame, arotatable member mounted thereon, a series of supports each pivoted atone of its ends on the member and each having ex tensions at oppositeedges thereof, said supports carrying index matter and traveling withthe member through a closed path, each support arranged for delivery ata common position for inspection of said index matter, a series of partserected on the frame at each Side 01' the member, each series of partslying adjacent the path of travel of the supports, each part of theseries of parts constituting a circuit breaker to receive abutment of anextension of a support, an electrio circuit of which each series ofcircuit breakers is a part, a series of elastically held normally opencircuit closer parts, each part having electrical connection in saidcircuit with a circuit breaker of one of the series of said circuitbreakers, a second series of elastically held normally open circuitcloser parts in said circuit, each circuit closer pait having electricalconnection with a circuit breaker of the other series of circuitbreakers, the two series of circuit closer parts being adapted formanual and selective operation, a latch normally in position to haveinterlocked relation with one 02 the parts of each of the two series ofcircuit closer parts upon manual operation of the latter, a spring toelastically hold the latch out of position for such interlocking, anelectromagnet in said circuit to attract and hold the latch ininterlocked relation with the circuit closer parts in opposition to thepull or the spring, the extension of a support when abutting and openinga circuit breaker causing breaking of the electric circuit, thedeenergizing of the electromagnet, and the release of any circuit closerpart held by said latch.

17, A card index including in its construction a member mounted by meanswhereby it is movable, power means for driving it, a series of supportshingedly mounted each at one end on the member, each carrying indexmatter and each adapted to travel toward a common delivery position forinspection of such matter, extensions carried by the several supports, acharacter at each extension agreeing in value with index matt/er carriedby a given support, mounted means cult closer parts, each having acharacter thereat of a value corresponding to that oi a support and thecorresponding extension thereof, and mechanism in said circuit includingan electromagnet and a swinging latch, a spring normally holding thelatch in one of its positions, said latch being influenced by theelectromagnet to swing it in opposition to the spring to interlock witha circuit closer part when that part is manually operated, the saidmounted means constitutin circuit breakers for breaking the electriccircuit when opened by the abutment of an extension of a supportthereagainst, followed by the deenergizing of the electromagnet andconsequent release oi the manually operated circuit closer part.

18. A card index including in its construction a member mounted by meanswhereby it is movable, power means to drive it, a series of supportshingedly mounted at one end of each on said member adapted to traveltoward a common delivery position ior individual delivery thereat, anextension carried by a given support having an identifying characterthereat agreeing with an index card carried -by that support, mountedmeans projecting into the path of travel of a given extension to receivethe same against it to bring about the release of the supportcorresponding thereto at said common position, an electric circuit,means manually placed in an extreme position and having a character ofthe same value as that of a given support, and mechanism as part of saidcircuit connected to and between said manually placed means and theerected mounted means, the said circuit being broken ior halting thetravel of the member when the extension and mounted means are engaged,and a structure for releasing the manually operated means in the latteraction.

19. it card index including in its construction a member mounted bymeans whereby it is movable, a series of supports hinged on and movablewith said member in a closed path, each support provided with indexmatter and with an extension, and each support adapted to be selectivelydelivered at a common position for inspection, an electric circuit, aseries of manually operable parts, each part being connected with saidcircuit, separate data at each part corresponding in value with the dataof a given support, and each said part being normally elastically heldin a retracted position to maintain an open circuit, a latch in saidcircuit to interlock with any one of the parts when any such part isoperated to close said circuit, a series of circuit breakers normallyclosed and erected in fixed position adjacent the path of travel of thesupports and each adapted to be opened by contact of an extensiontherewith, one side of each circuit breaker being part of the namedelectric circuit, the other side thereof being connected with one ofsaid parts, and a magnet in said electric circuit adapted when energizedto hold the latch in engagement with a given part when the latter ismanually operated, such operation during the travel of a supportcompleting the circuit through such part and the circuit breaker, andenergizing the magnet, the extension of a support having datacorresponding to the data of the thus operated part engaging and openingthe circuit breaker to render the magnet lneilective and thus permittingthe release of said latch from the part operated,

20. A card index including in its construction a member mounted by meanswhereby it is movable, a support hinged on and movable with said memberin a closed path and provided with index matter and with an extensionhaving an index character thereat and adapted to be delivered at aposition for inspection, an electric circuit, a manually operated partconnected with said circuit and having data thereat corresponding togiven data of the support, a second manually operated part associatedwith the first named part and also connected with said circuit, andlikewise having data thereat corresponding to other data of the support,both parts being normally elastically held in position to maintain anopen circuit, a latch in the circuit common to both parts adapted toengage and hold each of them in circuit closing position when each isoperated to close the circuit, a circuit breaker erected in ilxedposition adjacent the path or travel of the support adapted to be openedby contact of the extension oi the support therewith, one side of saidcircuit breaker being part oi the named circuit, the other side of saidbreaker being connected with both oi the manually operated parts, and amagnet in said circuit adapted to attract and engage the latch with theparts, the extension oi the support in its travel adapted to open saidcircuit breaker to render the magnet ineilective releasing the latchfrom said parts.

21. In a card index, a structure including a treme position engaging andlocking with said latch in the second position of the latter, each parthaving its own identifying character thereat and forming part oi saidcircuit, a member mounted by means whereby it is movable, a series 0!suppo ts hingedly mounted on the member to travel in a closed path, eachfor delivery at a common inspection position and each having anidentifying character agreeing with a character of one of said manuallyoperated parts, and also having an extension with an index characterthereat, a series of mounted normally closed circult breakers, eachlying in the path of travel of the extension of a support, and bingparts oi said circuit, the engagement of a given travellingsupport-extension with a given circuit breaker opening the latter torender the electro magnet ineffective and thereby releasing the latchfrom a manually operated part previously engaged therewith andcorresponding to the support selected for delivery at said commoninspection position.

24. A card index including in its construction, and in combination, amember mounted by means whereby it is movable, an electric circuit, anelectric motor in said circuit for driving said member, a series 01'supports mounted on said member to i travel therewith and severallychangeable in posimember mounted whereby it is adapted to travel in aclosed path, a series of independent supports hingedly attached at oneof their ends thereto to travel in a closed path therewith and eachprovided with index characters, said structure also including a seriesof manually operated devices each normally elastically held in oneextreme position, and each having index matter carried thereat whichcorresponds to an index character on a given support, a series of partsmounted ad- Jacent the path oi travel oi the supports, each of whichcorresponds with a character on one of the latter and with a characteron one oi the said devices, a clip adapted for attachment to a givensupport to extend therefrom in position to indicate a given characterthereon and in a position in the travel of such support to be broughtinto abutment with any given part oi such series 01' parts correspondingto the named given character on the said support, means located betweensaid part 01' said series of parts and themanually operated devicecorresponding thereto, said means including a pair of elements adaptedto be locked relative to each other in the manual operation 01' saiddevice, a latch to secure the parts in locked relation in anotherextreme position thereof, means to hold the latch in such lockedrelation oi! the parts, a portion of said means adapted to release thelatch and permit separation of the named elements when the clip in itstravel has made contact with the named part or said series of parts.

22. The structure according to claim 21 wherein the named series 01'mounted parts are disposed at such positions adjacent the path or travelor the supports that the clip oi any one oi the latter will have contactwith a given predetermined part of the series or mounted parts at asingle predetermined point in the travel orbit of the supports.

23. A card index including in its construction, and in combination, anelectric circuit, a hingedly mounted magnetically attracted latch insaid circuit normally elastically held in one position, on electromagnetalso in said circuit i'or attracting the latch to another position, aseries of manually operated parts each normally elastically held in anextreme position and in another extion with respect thereto, eachadapted for travel toward a common inspection position, a projection orextension on each support, each provided with an index character, eachextension having its own path of travel during the travel of the series,a series 01' mounted means each projecting into the path of travel of agiven extension for the abutment oi the latter thereagainst in thetravel thereof with the member, each means of said series of means beingpart of said electric circuit and constituting a circuit breaker, aseries of manually operated parts in said circuit, and a latch also insaid circuit to engage and hold the several parts or the series of saidparts in a given position but normally tree thereof, each or the saidparts having thereat its own distinguishing index character, eachcharacter corresponding to the data oi a given support, the extension ofa given support having reached said inspection position, and having comeinto abutment with and moved :a mounted erected means correspondingthereto causing breaking of the electric circuit for releasing the latchfrom a given manually operated part engaged with said latch.

25. A card index 01' the rot ry type including in its construction asupporting framing, a member supported on said framing arranged torotate, a series oiindex-data carrying supports or tablets eachseparately mounted hlngedly at one oi its ends on said member and eachtree to swing at its other end in the direction 0! travel of saidtablets, and each in its travel moving toward a position above an'inspection position in bulked order and each tablet being in position tofall by gravity to said inspection position, and means spaced above thelatter position in the path of travel of said tablets and in position tobe engaged by and providing a lodgement ror said bulk and located toprevent falling of the same, said means arranged to release the tabletsone by one, each in its order, during travel or the named bulk oftablets with the member, and adapted to permit each tablet to tailseparately to the named inspection position.

GEORGE W. TORRENCE. WILLIS A. CALKINB.

